Duncan E. Skogsberg passes away at 68

Long-time Jaycee “Rooster,” Rotarian, served on founding Board of ECAF

Duncan E. Skogsberg, of Oswego, passed away at the age of 68 on Saturday, October 14, 2017 at Symphony at the Tillers in Oswego. He was born on March 4, 1949 in Chicago, the son of Arthur M. and Corinne E. (Armstrong) Skogsberg.

Duncan entered a room and filled it with his personality. He also filled a library of bookshelves with his beloved histories of WWII and biographies of leaders he admired including Lincoln and Churchill. Tom Clancy and Scott Turow titles were also favorites. The self-deprecating “Mr. Stupid,” was a whiz with numbers and, blessed with a nearly photographic memory, a dominating trivia player. Competitive in literally everything, golf and bowling were two of his passions. A lifelong Methodist, he attended Yorkville Congregational Church with his family where he delighted in lending his “perfect pitch” tenor, baritone or bass, depending on what YCC’s vaunted Men’s Section required for a given song of praise.

During his more than 40-year career as an executive benefits advisor, he championed selling with integrity. He strongly believed the clients’ needs outweighed any sales motive; he strove to serve the customer. He shared both his philosophy and his prodigious leadership skills with generations of new agents primarily in affiliation with The Principal Financial Group and its predecessors. Duncan prepared for his career in financial services by first completing an undergraduate degree in history at the University of Illinois and then attaining an MBA from the University of Chicago, also his father’s Alma Mater. His wardrobe featured countless items of orange and blue, a testament to his love of all things Illini as well as Chicago Bears.

Concurrent with his professional career, Duncan devoted countless hours to award-winning volunteer leadership: first in multiple decades of service to the Jaycees, at the local (Elmhurst) and State levels. One of his specialties: scream-inducing haunted houses. Jaycee recognitions include induction into the Northeast Region Hall of Fame (2012) and the Illinois Jaycee Senate. After roostering out of the Jaycees, he helped found the Elmhurst Children’s Assistance Foundation and preserved the ground-breaking mission of the Center for Speech and Language Disorders. He chose the Rotary Club of Elmhurst for his next long-term commitment. During his presidency in 2006-07, the Club was recognized for recruiting the most new members in District 6450; that year they also raised funds for the international polio eradication campaign.

He was a loving father, son, brother, uncle and friend who will be deeply missed. Duncan is survived by his son, Richard (special friend Julia) and Richard’s mother Lea Ann, all of Yorkville, his brothers, Dirk M. (Judit) Skogsberg of Bristol and Kevin A. (Diane) Skogsberg of Sugar Grove; also one niece, two nephews, several great-nieces and nephews and one great-great nephew. aswell as many life-long friends, Jaycee Roosters, fellow Rotarians and enduring colleagues.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Arthur M. and Corinne E. Skogsberg. Duncan’s wish was that memorials be directed to Yorkville Congregational United Church of Christ (YCUCC) Choirs.